South Range stays perfect, whips Aurora

Morgan Czopur scored 16 points and Sarah Durr added 15 as South Range improved to 8-0 in girls basketball with a 54-33 victory over Aurora Monday night. The Raiders (8-0) jumped out to a 21-9 lead after one and continued to add on from there. Aurora, a Division I school, drops to 7-2.

Perez signed a one-year deal two months after the five-time All-Star was released by Cleveland. Perez, 28, became a full-time closer in 2010, and he has 132 career saves. The right-hander was 5-3 with a 4.33 ERA and 25 saves in 30 chances for the Indians.

His time in Cleveland was at times overshadowed by turmoil. He angered Indians fans last season for saying they didn’t support the team like they should, and he rankled Cleveland’s front office by criticizing trades and stating the Indians weren’t spending enough to win. Last June, Perez was arrested after drug agents followed a package containing marijuana to his Ohio home. He and his wife pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.

Sounders, Fulham arrange Dempsey loan

TUKWILA, Wash.

U.S. national team captain Clint Dempsey will be returning to Fulham on a two-month loan from the Seattle Sounders. Dempsey passed a medical test with the Cottagers last week, and the loan was completed Tuesday. No dates were announced for when Dempsey would join Fulham or return to Seattle. But the expectation is he would come back before the Sounders opener in March against defending MLS champion Sporting Kansas City.

Dempsey scored 60 goals in 225 games for Fulham from 2007-12, including 50 goals in 184 Premier League matches. He spent a season at Tottenham before moving to Major League Soccer in August and joining the Sounders. Dempsey appeared in 12 games for Seattle and finished with a disappointing one goal and one assist in his first season back in MLS.

Army hires Monken as new football coach

WEST POINT, N.Y.

Intent on ending its long losing streak against its archrival, Army hired former Navy assistant Jeff Monken as its football coach.

Monken spent the past four seasons as the head coach at Georgia Southern after learning the triple-option offense under Paul Johnson during stints with the Middies and Georgia Tech. He had a 38-16 record at Georgia Southern.

“I am honored and humbled by their trust in me to lead the West Point football program,” Monken said. “More than anyone else, I want to thank the men and women who have served and continue to serve our nation in the United States Army. I am proud to be your head football coach.”

Monken replaces Rich Ellerson, who was fired last week after his fifth straight loss to Navy. Navy has won 12 straight in the series, the longest run by either team.

Nets’ Pierce fined $15,000 for foul on Hill

NEW YORK

Brooklyn Nets forward Paul Pierce has been fined $15,000 for his flagrant foul on George Hill of the Pacers.

Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indiana’s 103-86 win Monday. Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. But his arm ended up going around Hill’s neck for a clothesline tackle.

Reporting prep results

The Vindicator encourages coaches and statisticians to report prep results by email (sports@vindy.com) or fax (330-747-6712).

Phone calls (330-747-1478) are also acceptable but emails and faxes are strongly preferred. Deadline is 10:30 p.m.